See what the UBCO Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences experience was like for our alumni — including some helpful advice for current students — and discover where they are now in their careers.
Name: Elliott Hayton
Program: Bachelor of Science in Economics
Graduated: May 2023
Hometown: Kenora, Ontario
Tell us about your life before coming to UBCO:
I grew up in Kenora, a small town in northwestern Ontario and attended a smaller high school where we had a graduating class of about 90 students. Outside of the classroom I competed at the national level in powerlifting, winning a bronze medal at the 2019 Canadian Powerlifting Union National Championships, and was also active in other sports, like snowboarding and basketball. My athletic background taught me accountability and really taught me discipline in my teenage years, which I think has really formed me into the person I am today.
Before coming to UBCO, what were some of the major obstacles standing in the way of your success and/or education?
I was never exposed to any economics or business courses going to a high school and living in a town of that size. I was primarily focused more on life sciences rather than topics related to economics and business. I had personal interest for finance, but never really thought about pursuing it at an educational level.
Why did you choose UBCO?
An old friend from Kenora had moved to Kelowna some 10 years ago, and we remained in contact. When I applied for UBC, I applied to both campuses. I heard back from UBCO first, and then attended a recruitment event on the Okanagan campus. It was my first visit to Kelowna, and I realized it was the trip I needed. I have always been intrigued by the outdoors and when I saw the Okanagan campus and my friend took me to Big White, I was blown away. I knew this experience was going to be the perfect balance of learning and fun.
Why did you choose your program and what did you like most about it?
I originally planned on majoring in chemistry. It was a subject in high school that I was strong at. But in speaking with my now former roommate at UBCO, he opened my eyes to the economics program. He encouraged me to take a few economics courses with him. Through these discussions and taking the courses, it ready broadened my horizons, and led to the Economics program at UBCO.
Do you have a favorite class, professor, or staff person? If so, who/what and why?
Dr. Andrea Craig was definitely my favorite professor, we were able to foster a very genuine relationship, and we discovered we share a love for the outdoors. Dr. Craig’s door was always open, she was always available to the students. I also have to mention Dr. Noriko Ozawa. If you showed a willingness to work hard and apply yourself, Dr. Ozawa would support you in any way to help you succeed. That support left a lasting impression on me.
What are your future career and/or educational goals?
Following graduation, I took the opportunity to uproot myself from Kelowna and move to Victoria, taking work as a business development representative for a tech startup out of Toronto. I knew I didn’t want to become a policy maker, but with the knowledge I gained from the program, I was able to move into towards tech sales, which peaked my interest. I’ve always been extroverted and I like to speak, so I have really enjoyed sourcing new opportunities for my company and making new business connections.
If you had to convince another student like you to go to UBCO, what would you say?
It shouldn’t take much convincing! When deciding to go to UBCO, something I’m forever grateful for but didn’t consider was the close-knit community on the campus. I met some of my very best friends on my very first day. There are not 1000 students in high rise buildings. It allowed us to foster important connections, and it wasn’t something I expected, but was so important looking back at my experience.